In many ways, our dogs are like big kids. We can teach them good manners and train them to obey the rules p but if we are not consistent with follow-through, we may end up with some behavioral issues nonetheless. For those of us who have gone through obedience training – or trained our dogs ourselves – there may come a time that we have to admit the sad truth. Our pups need an obedience training refresher course. How can you determine if your dog is just acting up a bit, or is in need of more obedience training? Here are some tips.
Disobedient dogs can be annoying or bothersome to others – but having an untrained or badly behaving dog can also be dangerous to themselves or others. They can run out in the street, engage aggressively with other dogs, or even bite when afraid. Opting for more obedience training will help to keep them safe, as well as you and other dogs they come in contact with.
Aggression: Many pet owners don’t take aggression as seriously as they should. But we live in a hyper-litigious society, and even if your dog’s aggressive behavior does not cause any lasting damage, a dog attack on a person or even another dog is likely to become a big issue. You may think that growling or barking aggressively are ok as long as your dog doesn’t physically go after the object of their emotion, but it may be a matter of time. Don’t assume that your dog is “naturally aggressive” – more obedience training is needed.
Barking: We understand that barking is communication for dogs. They bark if they hear someone approaching their home, they bark at squirrels or turtles, they even happily bark when their favorite human returns home. But if that barking is accompanied with lunging at people or other dogs, or they pull at their leash and take effort to control, you may wish to call a professional dog trainer.
Jumping: No one likes being jumped on by your dog. While you may find it endearing, and people may assure you “it’s fine”, it isn’t. If your dogs cannot greet visitors or family members without jumping and pawing at them, it is time for more obedience training. While some dog owners encourage this behavior by their own happy response, dogs need to learn what is appropriate. Jumping on people, no matter how harmless it seems, never is.
Ignoring You: Many dog owners have gotten so used to their dogs ignoring them that they don’t really expect compliance. They think by calling multiple times – or at increasingly sharp decibel levels – that the dog will eventually listen. Fact is, if the dog does not respond on the first command of “Come!” , he is not listening at all. He is simply deciding when he wants to come over to you, which means he believes he is in charge. While this may be a benign problem in some cases, it can become dangerous if the dog runs out into the street, or engages with the wrong dog, animal or human.
Leash Pulling: This may be the least identified reason that more obedience training is needed, because most owners think that their dog is simply excited to go on a walk. But if your dog cannot walk without pulling your forward or in three different directions, it actually is a behavior in need of fixing. If you need to wrap your leash around your hands in order to control your dog, call a professional for advice. You’ll be surprised at how much more enjoyable your walks will be once your dog learns loose-leash walking.
There is no shame in admitting that your dog is in need of more obedience training. Ultimately, it is the best thing that you can do for the health and happiness of your dog, as well as establishing harmony and order in the home. For more information on Sarasota and Bradenton area obedience training classes and boarding options, call Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training.
